SUKKUR, Oct 14: Two people were killed and 50 others injured when police opened fire to stop protesters from marching towards the Jacobabad airport on Sunday. Several people were also injured in clashes which took place in and around Jacobabad.

Religious parties, which had given call for siege of Jacobabad airport to protest against the handing over of airstrip to the US forces, claimed that over 500 people had been arrested by the police.

Strict security measures were taken by the law enforcement agencies to foil the attempt to lay siege to Jacobabad airport by the workers of the Jamiat Ulema Islam. Police erected barricades and cordoned off all roads leading to the airport.

Jacobabad wore a deserted look on Sunday as all shops including cigarette kiosks and hotels remained closed.

All exit and entry points to Jacobabad were cordoned off by the police to stop the JUI workers from entering the city.

Despite strict security measures, the JUI secretary-general, Khalid Mahmood Soomro, reached Jacobabad, where he talked to media and demanded registration of cases against those policemen involved in the killing of JUI workers.

Police had cordoned off the all the ways leading to Jacobabad since morning from Kandhkot, Thul and Quetta and no vehicle was allowed to enter Jacobabad. About 200 police pickets were set up to stop the entry of JUI workers. However, hundreds of them managed to enter the city.

The biggest gathering was held at Adal Shakh in Shikarpur district, where a clash took place between police and protesters. About 25 JUI workers and six policemen were injured in the incident. According to unconfirmed reports two rifles were also snatched from cops.

Another clash took place at Abad, near Shikarpur, where several persons were injured in police firing. Clashes were also reported at Midway Hotel, Pechuho Factory, Mohahir Camp, Bolan Pump, Station Road, Jani Dero Nako and Babu Mohall.

One person Mukhtar Khoso, hailed from Thul, was killed in police firing near district council office. The JUI sources said at Adal Shakh Mohammad Akram Balkani was killed in firing. They claimed that 50 activists were injured in police firing. A police ASI Ashiq Ali was also injured in firing.

Speaking to workers at the DC Chowk, JUI secretary-general Khalid Mahmood Soomro said our fight was with Jews and Americans and would continue until they vacated our land.

Later, the JUI leader into a meeting with SSP Akhtar Ali Shah and other officials for the release of JUI workers. The meeting was still in progress till the filing of this report.

Hundreds of vehicles, including truck and buses were lying in queue on the Indus highway between Shikarpur and Jacobabad as their tyres had been punctured by the security forces.

Police had stopped the entry of protestors and sealed the entry points leading to Jacobabad. Traffic on the Indus highway was suspended and protesters continued their journey to reach Jacobabad airport on foot.